I say Paper Mario. Everyone in the world has a Wii in a draw somewhere. Paper Mario is available on virtual console. The only drawback is you need a pro controller to play it. You might be able to use a Gamecube pad, I can't remember.

I say Paper Mario. Everyone in the world has a Wii in a draw somewhere. Paper Mario is available on virtual console. The only drawback is you need a pro controller to play it. You might be able to use a Gamecube pad, I can't remember.

Shining Force 1 & 2. Think I was around 12 when I played those. Plot isn't too complicated and while they're SRPGs, the combat systems are pretty straight forward and easy to learn. If you don't have a SEGA Genesis, I believe there's PC, PS3, and XBox 360 versions available in one of the SEGA collections.

I tend to think that in general most 16 bit RPGs and ARPGs are well suited for young teens and beginners, with the exception of a few for obvious reasons. Simplistic mechanics and easy to follow plots with the violence mostly "suggested" by way of the animations and not so much "illustrated" as it is today.

I also vote Lunar SSSC, Lunar EB, Alundra, and even Shining Wisdom and Albert Odyssey (if one has access to a Sega Saturn) simply because when I was 12 or 13 nothing was as satisfying as a working designs offering.

I'm thinking Super Mario RPG, anything pokemans or megaman battle network as those are all kid-friendly, relatively angst-free experiences and fun too. Not so sure about Earthbound as that mu training scene with Poo scared the hell outta me as a kid.